E (Rifles) Company
by Maj Banks OC:
PSAO: 2ic:
SPSI:
CSM (V): QPSI:
CQMS (V): RRTT:
OC
Maj M A Banks JP Capt K J Mahoney Capt N Heath WO2 D Towers WO2 K Groome CSjt D Winter Vacant
CSjt Weston Pl Sjt
Pegasus Pl OCdt J Jones Sjt G T Kaye Anzio Pl Vacant
Sjt C Powell
The hectic life in a TA Rifle Company continues and soldiers at E (Rifles) Company continue to participate at all levels. There has been less change within the Company over the past six months although we have seen the arrival of a new QPSI, CSjt Winter, who was posted to the Company in November 2008; we have lost WO2 (CSM) Richard Jones who has taken over as RQMS at Battalion HQ in Wolverhampton. The Company has seen individual deployments on FTRS over this period we are very firmly focused on our requirement under the Operational Command Plot (OCP) to support of Op Herrick 10 with the 2nd Battalion. The Company’s twelve soldiers - Capt Nick Heath, Sjt Gordon Kaye, Cpl Kenny Barclay, Cpl Nick Reader, Cpl Lee Wickson, Rfn Lee Comer, Rfn Dan Coley, Rfn Tony Courtney, Rfn Scott Empson, Rfn Mark Frances, Rfn Colin Hamlet, Rfn Mick Hubbard - committed to Op Herrick 10 deployed in March 2009 whilst the two FTRS, LCpl Sharon Warren (Welfare in BHQ) and Rfn Wayne Withers, joined 2 MERCIAN in 2008. We all wish them well during their tour and look forward to welcoming them all back in late September 2009. I have no doubt that we will be able to give them a true heroes’ welcome on their return. The Company is recruiting well at the lower ranks; this, coupled with our high retention rates of both trained soldiers and recruits, has meant that the Company has maintained a steady state of around 74% of establishment.
Training
Training has continued at a good pace at both Company and Regimental level. At Company level, we paired off with D Company to maintain flexibility, consistency and, above all, a larger number of instructors to deliver high level training. The training over the past year has been challenging, well
The Mercian Eagle E (Rifles) Coy at Cosford Air Show
planned and successful and has covered a raft of basic Infantry Skill from patrolling and ambushing to offensive, defensive and urban operations. Annual training has been based on a number of events which have included career courses, Recruiting (Midlands Challenge), Kazakhstan, support to the mobilisation and training of Normandy Company prior to deployment on Op Herrick 10 and other Brigade activities. In addition, we took part in Remembrance Services providing a small contingent in Shrewsbury and representation in Oswestry. As usual, there was an open invitation back to the TA Centre where there was a chance to catch up with people not seen since last year and, in some cases, for many years.
The Company held a Christmas weekend in Shrewsbury which included soldiers taking part in an individual competition and incorporated some of the history from around Shropshire. In the evening, the officers, WOs and SNCOs of the Company served dinner to all the Company’s soldiers and a few invited guests. We also took this opportunity to say farewell to a number of people who had left E Company over the past six months. These included WO2 R H Jones who has served the Company well over many years and who has now become RQMS in Wolverhampton: we wish him and his family well and thank them for their massive contribution over the years. We said farewell, also, to CSjt Lloyd who, after many years of devoted service as both a regular and TA soldier has retired, mainly due to an injury he sustained at work well over a year ago; again, we wish him and his family well for the future and know that he will return on many a social occasion in the future. Finally, we said farewell to
Cpl Emma Salvoni, LCpl Sharon Warren and Rfn Shane Batel
Capt Heath briefing prior to fighting patrol October 2009 93
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